Three by Four Can Package Dispensing Carton
A carton with an improved dispenser at an end of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when it is opened while permitting the bottom end flaps attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that overlaps the bottom end flaps. This dispenser has a bottom tear line in the end of the carton which only extends partially across the end of the carton. The tear line extends upwardly from each side of the bottom tear line to form end retainers to prevent cans in the second row of the carton from rolling out. By placing the bottom tear line no higher from the bottom of the carton than necessary to retain a can in the bottom row and to make the end retainers on each side of the carton no larger than necessary to restrain a can in the second row from rolling out, easy access to the cans on the bottom row of containers is provided after the cans in the second and third rows of the carton have been removed. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first can dispensed. The top tear line in the top panel for forming the dispenser flap is located from the exiting end of the carton at a distance that is significantly less than the diameter of a can to be contained in the carton. Preferably this distance is between 70 and 85% of the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton, but can be as short at 50% of the diameter of a container plus approximately three millimeters.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an enclosed paperboard carton capable of enclosing cylindrical containers which has a unique opening and dispensing feature that allows the containers, for example cans, to be removed or dispensed while preserving the overall structural integrity of the carton. This dispenser can be used on a carton containing cans or other types of cylindrical containers arranged in three rows. This dispenser prevents the containers in the first two rows from rolling out when opened, but provides for the easy removal of all containers in the carton, including the containers in the bottom row. The size of the dispenser opening of this invention has been greatly reduced to preserve the structural integrity of the carton during handling and also after the dispenser has been opened. The dispensing feature may also provide a safety net for the first container that is dispensed when the carton is opened.
2. Background
Fully enclosed cartons capable of carrying cans have been used in the past that have a feature for dispensing the cans one at a time. Dispensers have been provided at various locations on these cartons depending on the design. Many of these dispensers suffer from the disadvantage that once open, they allow all of the containers to roll out. In addition, it is difficult to carry some of these cartons without the containers falling out once the dispenser has been opened. Many of these dispensers do not prevent the containers in the second row from rolling out automatically when the dispenser is opened. Many of these dispensers do not permit easy access to obtain the containers in the bottom row while restraining them from automatically rolling out of the carton.
Many of these dispensers destroy the overall carton integrity once they have been opened. Many of the dispensers lack a safety net for the first container dispensed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of this invention to provide a carton with a dispenser that preserves the integrity of the carton after the dispenser has been opened. It is another object of this invention to provide a safety net or basket for any container that is automatically dispensed when the dispenser is opened. It is an object of this invention to develop a carton with a dispenser which has improved machineability in the bottling plant when the various flaps forming the dispenser are folded and glued. It is a further object of this invention to develop a carton with a dispenser that has superior structural integrity while it is being handled during shipping and delivery to a store and handling by the consumer in taking the carton filled with containers home. It is another object of this invention to develop a dispenser that preserves the structural integrity of the carton when the dispenser has been opened. It is the further object to develop a dispenser that is easier to open than past dispensers. It is a still a further object of this invention to develop a dispenser for a carton containing three rows of cans that will prevent the bottom row and middle row from automatically rolling out of the carton when the dispenser is opened, but provide for easy removal of the cans in those rows. It is a still further object of this invention to develop a dispenser that will permit the carton to be moved from one location to another after it has been opened without discharging containers. The final object of this invention is to provide a dispenser that can be easily opened.
Briefly described, in a preferred form, the objects of this invention are achieved by providing an enclosed carton that has a unique dispenser in the exiting end of the carton. This carton is generally rectangular and has a bottom, a top, two sides, a closed end and an exiting end. The carton is foldably constructed from a blank having panels and flaps. The exiting end, or ends, of the carton permits containers to be taken from the carton via the dispenser.
This carton has a dispenser that is formed from a dispenser flap that is attached to the carton by a bottom tear line in the exiting end that is generally parallel to the bottom that extends only partially across the exiting end of the carton, with side tear lines extending from the bottom tear line to form an end retainer in the exiting end of the carton adjacent each side panel. Each side tear line turns into the adjacent side panel and extends diagonally through the side panel and extends into the top panel where the tear lines meet to form a top tear line. The bottom tear line is based at least a sufficient distance from the bottom panel to restrain the containers in the bottom row from rolling out while the end retainers extend into the exiting end of the carton at least a sufficient distance from each side panel and from the bottom panel to prevent the containers in the middle row from rolling out when the dispenser is opened. The distance from the top tear line to the fold line between the top panel and top end panel is significantly less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton. Preferably, in one embodiment of this invention this distance is between 70 and 85% of the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton. However, it has been found that the distance can be as short as one half the diameter of a can plus approximately three millimeters. Making this distance as short as possible strengthens the carton both when the dispenser is closed and also when it is open as it greatly reduces the size of the void created when the dispenser is open.
In order to permit easy access of the containers in the carton, the bottom tear line is preferably located at a distance from the bottom panel that is between one-third and two-thirds of the diameter of a container in the bottom row. The ends of this carton are preferable closed by a bottom end flap, two side end flaps and a top end flap that are glued together.
This carton is ideally suited for carrying twelve cans in three rows with four cans in each row, but can be designed to carry more cans or cylindrical containers.
By constructing the bottom tear line in the end of the carton as a fold line rather than a tear line, a basket is formed when the dispenser flap is opened to catch the first container that automatically falls out of the carton.
Preferably, this carton is constructed with a bottom end flap having a height somewhat less than the diameter of the can in the bottom row with a bottom tear line, being located immediately adjacent to the end of the bottom end flap for ease of tearing off or folding the dispenser flap.
To permit easy opening of this dispenser, a dispenser opening flap is attached by a fold line in the top panel to the dispenser flap to aid in commencing the opening of the dispenser flap. This carton may have a carrying handle in the top panel.
In order to provide easy access to the cans in the carton that do not automatically roll out, the end retainers are preferably constructed so that they only extend along a portion on each end of the can in the second row to prevent it from rolling out of the carton, but to permit its easy removal from the carton. The bottom tear line in the exiting end of the carton is placed close enough to the bottom to permit the easy removal of cans in the bottom row.
In another embodiment, each side tear line that extends from the bottom tear line in the exiting end of the carton can be curved near its top towards the adjacent side panel so that only a small portion of the end retainers prevent the can in the second row from rolling out of the carton. In fact, the end retainers only need extend upwardly a short distance above the can in the bottom row to prevent the can in the second row from automatically rolling out. The end retainers need not extend upwardly more than one eighth or one fourth of the diameter of the can in the second row. Utilizing this feature permits the easy removal of cans from the carton, but prevents them from automatically falling out.
By constructing the bottom line in the end of the carton as a fold line rather than a tear line, a basket is formed when the dispenser flap is opened to catch the first container that automatically falls out of the carton. Preferably, this carton is constructed with a bottom end flap having a height somewhat less than the diameter of the can in the bottom row with a bottom fold line or tear line, depending on which is used, being located immediately adjacent to the end of the bottom end flap for ease of tearing off or folding the dispenser flap. Several different dispenser flap embodiments are disclosed.
This carton can be constructed by gluing, taping, stapling and the like, or by locking. The dispenser of this invention can be put in one end of the carton or in both ends.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
The present invention is intended primarily for use with cans of the types used to contain soft drinks, beer and the like. As illustrated in
This carton is capable of containing cans, or other types of cylindrical containers, in three rows of four cans each. This carton has a slotted handle 54 which is formed by tear line 56 which may extend into side panels 14 and 22 to dissipate the stress imposed on the handle 54 when a person is carrying the carton loaded with cans. This slotted handle 54 has handle flaps 58 that are foldably attached to top panel 18 by fold lines 60. These handle flaps 58 provide cushioning to a person's hand when carrying the carton. Other types of handles, such as the “racetrack” handle can be used. This carton can be constructed without a handle.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the carton embodiments of the present invention are generally symmetrical about a horizontal line of bisection, as viewed when
The blank illustrated in
This dispenser flap 70 may have a dispenser opening flap 72 which can be severed from top panel 18 by tear line 74. This dispenser opening flap 72 is attached by fold lines 76 and 78 to dispenser flap 70.
This blank 10 is formed into a carton sleeve by gluing bottom flap 12 to bottom flap 26. Cans can be loaded into this carton sleeve in a bottling plant. This blank 10 when formed into a sleeve is capable of holding three rows of cans with four cans in each row. The cans rest on their sides on bottom flaps 12 and 26. After the cans have been loaded into the carton sleeve on their sides, the various end flaps on both ends are closed. Using the dispensing end 80 of the carton as an example, top end flap 42 is folded downwardly and bottom end flaps 30 and 50 are folded upwardly and side end flaps 38 and 46 are folded sideways and glued to top end flap 42 and bottom end flaps 30 and 50 to form the dispensing end 80 of the carton. The other end of the carton can be closed in the same manner.
When the carton sleeve has been filled with cans and the end flaps folded and glued, the resulting carton has a closed end and a dispensing end 80. However, a dispenser can be placed on both ends of the carton. The cans exit the carton through the dispensing end 80 of the carton. The carton formed from the blanks of
The dispenser flap 70 may be opened by a person inserting his or her fingers into dispenser opening flap 72 and pulling the dispenser flap 70 open, which results in tearing along tear line 62. Bottom tear line 68 in side end flaps 38 and 46 can be torn and the dispenser flap 70 removed from the carton as illustrated in
In place of providing bottom tear line 68 in side end flaps 38 and 46, line 68 can be constructed as a fold line in which case the dispenser flap 70 remains attached to the carton. The dispenser flap 70 serves as a safety net or basket to prevent top can TC from the top row from leaving the vicinity of the carton as illustrated in
In order to maintain the structural integrity of this carton, bottom end flaps 30 and 50 are not removed whether bottom tear line 68 is a tear line or fold line. Bottom portions 82 of side end flaps 38 and 46 are also not removed as these portions have been glued to bottom end flaps 30 and 50.
The dispenser of this carton is designed to permit the easy removal of cans but prevent those in the first and second row from automatically rolling out when the dispenser flap 70 is opened. It will be realized that the can TC that was in the top row will automatically roll out when the dispenser is opened as shown in
It will be noticed from
The second row of cans as illustrated by C2 in
It should be realized that bottom fold line or tear line 68 can be spaced from the bottom of the carton at a distance BH greater than the minimum height necessary to restrain cans in the bottom row from automatically rolling out of the carton when the dispenser is open. Likewise, end retainers 64 and 68 can have a greater width W and height EH than the minimum required to prevent cans in the second row from automatically rolling out when the dispenser is open. Preferably tear line 62 is curved near its top in the dispensing end of the carton towards the side panels 14 and 22 so that only a small portion of end retainers 64 and 66 prevent the can C2 from rolling out of the carton as illustrated in
In order to maintain the structural integrity of the carton of this embodiment of the invention it is preferred that the height BH be approximately the same or slightly more than the distance from fold line 32 to end 84 of bottom end flap 30 and that this same distance be maintained in respect to bottom end flap 50.
It should be realized that a can C2 in the second row as illustrated in
Cartons with three or more rows of cans can utilize the dispenser of this embodiment of the invention. The carton of this embodiment with its dispenser feature can also be used with cartons containing two rows of cans with a plurality of cans in each row.
Another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
This carton is capable of containing cans, or other types of cylindrical containers, in three rows of four cans each. This carton may have a slotted handle 154 which is formed by tear line 156 which may extend into side panels 114 and 122 to dissipate the stress imposed on the handle 154 when a person is carrying the carton loaded with cans. This slotted handle 154 has handle flaps 158 that are foldably attached to top panel 118 by fold lines 160. These handle flaps 158 provide cushioning to a person's hand when carrying the carton. Other types of handles, such as the “racetrack” handle, and can be used with the cartons of this invention. This carton can be constructed without a handle.
The blank illustrated in
This dispenser flap 170 may have a dispenser opening flap 172 which can be severed from top panel 118 by tear line 174, which with this embodiment is co-extensive with tear line 162 along the dispenser opening flap 172. This dispenser opening flap 172 has a score line 178 which may have cuts in it to make it easier to fold when the dispenser flap 170 is being opened. This dispenser opening flap 172 is attached to dispenser flap 170 by fold line 176 which may have nicks to facilitate folding when the dispenser flap 170 is being opened.
This blank 110 of this embodiment is formed into a carton sleeve by gluing bottom flap 112 to bottom flap 126. Cans can be loaded into this carton sleeve in a bottling plant. This blank 110 when formed into a sleeve is capable of holding three rows of cans with four cans in each row. The cans rest on their sides on bottom flaps 112 and 126. After the cans have been loaded into the carton sleeve on their sides, the various end flaps on both ends are closed. Using the dispensing end 180 of the carton as an example, top end flap 142 is folded downwardly and bottom end flaps 130 and 150 are folded upwardly and side end flaps 138 and 146 are folded sideways and glued to top end flap 142 and bottom end flaps 130 and 150 to form the dispensing end 180 of the carton. The closed end 181 of the carton can be closed in the same manner.
When the carton sleeve has been filled with cans and the end flaps folded and glued, the resulting carton has a closed end 181 and a dispensing end 180. However, a dispenser can be placed on both ends of the carton. The cans exit the carton through the dispensing end 180 of the carton. The carton formed from the blank of
Referring to
In order to maintain the structural integrity of this carton, bottom end flaps 130 and 150 are not removed as tear line 168 does not extend through bottom end flaps 130 and 150. Bottom portions 182 of side end flaps 138 and 146 are also not removed as these portions are glued to bottom end flaps 130 and 150 as shown in
The dispenser 184 of this carton is designed to permit the easy removal of cans but prevent those in the first C1 and second row C2 from automatically rolling out when the dispenser flap 170 is opened. The bottom tear line 168 needs to have a height BH from the bottom of the carton which is at least sufficient to restrain the cans in the bottom row from rolling out when the dispenser flap 170 is opened. The bottom tear line 168 is preferably placed generally parallel to the bottom of the carton. Preferably this bottom tear line 168 should be at a distance from the bottom of the carton that is between one-third and two-thirds of the diameter D of a can C1 in the bottom row.
Placing the bottom tear line 168 at the minimum distance BH from the bottom permits easy access to remove cans from the bottom row of the carton, as illustrated by C1 in
The middle row of cans, as illustrated by C2 in
As illustrated in
In order to maintain the structural integrity of the carton it is preferred that the height BH be approximately the same or slightly more than the distance from fold line 132 to end 184 (
It has been found that the structural integrity of a carton with a dispenser of this type can be greatly increased by reducing the distance T between where the tear line 162 crosses fold line 120 and fold line 132 in top panel 118. This distance T is directly related to the diameter D of the containers C. It had been thought in the past that this distance T must to be equal to or greater than the diameter D of a container C. It has been found that the structural integrity of the carton both with the dispenser flap 170 attached and with an open dispenser 184 is greatly increased when this distance T is greatly reduced. It has been found that this distance T can be as short as one half of the diameter of a container, such as a can, plus approximately three millimeters. This formula is valid for cans such as twelve ounce cans that have a diameter D of approximately 66 millimeters. Thus, the distance T in a carton carrying these twelve ounce cans could be as short as 36 millimeters. It is preferred that this distance be between 70 and 85% of the diameter of a container. In the case of the twelve ounce can, a distance of 53 millimeters is preferred. This formula that T can be as short as one half the diameter of a container, such as a can, plus approximately three millimeters applies to other can sizes within the standard range of sizes of beverage cans packaged in cartons. This formula has been tested and determined to be applicable to cans of smaller and greater diameters. Greatly reducing the distance T improves the ability to fold the various flaps on the dispensing end 180 of the carton. This is important because these flaps are folded and glued at high speed in a packaging machine.
Greatly reducing the distance T obviously results in the carton having a smaller dispenser flap 170. Reducing the size of the dispenser flap 170 reduces the likelihood of the tear lines 162 and 168 being torn during shipping and handling by a consumer.
When the dispenser 184 is open on a carton where the distance T has been greatly reduced, the void of the dispenser 184 in the carton is greatly reduced, which means that more structure of the carton remains which enhances the structural integrity of the carton after the dispenser flap 170 has been removed. The distance T between the dispensing end 180 of the carton is measured from fold line 132 to where tear line 162 intersects fold line 120. The distance T on side panel 122 between the intersection of tear line 162 and fold line 124 and the dispenser end 180 is the same as it is in side panel 114 as described.
This dispenser flap 170 is easy to open because top tear line 174, which is an extension of tear line 162A, provides easy access for a person's fingers to be inserted. It has been found that providing cuts in score line 178 and nicks in fold line 176 makes it easy to use a dispenser opening flap 172 to open the dispenser flap 170. The actual pulling open of the dispenser flap 170 along fold line 176 enables the dispenser flap 170 to be easily pulled opened even though distance T is short.
It should be realized that a can C2 in the second row as illustrated in
Although not shown for this embodiment, dispenser flap 170 can be opened, but left attached to the carton by making cut line 168 a fold line. As illustrated by the embodiment shown in
As described supra in respect to the embodiment illustrated in
The construction of the dispenser opening flap 211 facilitates reducing the distance T′. This dispenser opening flap 211 is engaged by a person inserting his or her fingers between triangular score line 218 and nicked cut line 216 with the fingers folding cushioning flap 219 and engaging curved score line 214 which is pulled forward opening the dispenser flap 170.
As in the case of the carton illustrated in
The dispenser of this embodiment of the invention provides an easy opening feature in that it has a dispenser opening flap where a person's fingers can be inserted to open the dispenser flap.
All of the dispenser embodiments of this invention can be used with cartons containing two rows of cans with a plurality of cans in each row. Cartons with three or more rows of cans can also utilize the dispensers of this invention.
While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of cylindrical containers, each with a diameter, in at least two rows, with a bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:
- (a) a bottom panel, top panel, a foldably attached top end flap, and foldably attached adjoining side panels;
- (b) said exiting end having a bottom tear line generally parallel to said bottom panel that extends partially across said exiting end, side tear lines extending from said bottom tear line to form an end retainer in said exiting end adjacent each side panel, with each side tear line extending into the adjacent side panel and extending diagonally through said panel and extending into said top panel where said side tear lines meet, with all of said tear lines being interconnected to form a dispenser flap that when removed forms a dispenser opening, said bottom tear line being spaced at a distance from said bottom panel at least sufficient to restrain the containers in the bottom row from rolling out when the dispenser is open, said end retainers extending into the exiting end at least a sufficient distance from each side panel and from said bottom panel to prevent the containers in the row immediately above the bottom row from rolling out when the dispenser is open while the bottom panel of the carton is in a horizontal plane; and
- (c) means to close any end that is a non-exiting end.
2. The carton of claim 1, in which said side tear lines meet to form a top tear line with at least a portion of said top tear line being spaced from the fold line between the top end flap and top panel that is significantly less than the diameter of container to be contained in the carton.
3. The carton of claim 2, which has a dispenser opening flap in the top panel that is foldably connected to the dispenser flap to facilitate opening the dispenser flap.
4. The carton of claim 2, in which said top tear line in the top panel is spaced from the fold line between the top end flap and top panel that is equal to approximately 50% of the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton plus approximately three millimeters.
5. The carton of claim 2, in which the distance from the top tear line in the top panel and the fold line between the top end flap and the top panel is between 75 and 85% of the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton.
6. The carton of claim 1, in which said bottom tear line is located at a distance from said bottom panel that is between one-third and two-thirds of the diameter of a container in the bottom row.
7. The carton of claim 1, in which each end of the carton has four flaps for closing said end of the carton, with a bottom end flap foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each adjoining side panel, said flaps being held together by glue.
8. The carton of claim 1, in which each side tear line that forms an end retainer extends to the adjoining side panel as a curved tear line.
9. The carton of claim 6, in which each end of the carton has four flaps for closing said end of the carton, with a bottom end flap foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each adjoining side panel, said flaps being held together by glue.
10. The carton of claim 7, in which each side tear line that forms an end retainer extends to the adjoining side panel as a curved tear line.
11. The carton of claim 8, in which each end of the carton has four flaps for closing said end of the carton, with a bottom end flap foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each adjoining side panel, said flaps being held together by glue.
12. The carton of claim 11 in which said bottom end flap has an end, with said bottom tear line being located in said side end flaps adjacent to said end of said bottom end flaps.
13. The carton of claim 8, in which said bottom tear line is located at a distance from said bottom panel that is between one-third and two-thirds of the diameter of a container in the bottom row, and in which each end of the carton has four flaps for closing said end of the carton, with a bottom end flap foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to an adjoining side panel, said flaps being held together by glue.
14. The carton of claim 12, which is designed for carrying twelve containers in three rows with four containers in each row.
15. The carton of claim 1, which has two exiting ends.
16. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of cylindrical containers, each with a diameter, in at least two rows, with a bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:
- (a) a bottom panel, top panel, and foldably attached adjoining side panels;
- (b) said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;
- (c) said exiting end having a bottom fold line generally parallel to said bottom panel that extends partially across said exiting end, with said bottom fold line being spaced adjacent to said bottom end flap, side tear lines extending from said bottom fold line to form an end retainer in said exiting end adjacent each side panel, with each side tear line extending into the adjacent side panel and extending diagonally through said side panel and extending into said top panel, where said side tear lines meet, with all of said tear lines being intercoimected to form a dispenser flap, so that when said tear lines are torn a dispenser opening is formed for dispensing the containers with said dispenser flap remaining attached to the carton by said bottom fold line forming a basket for catching containers exiting the carton, said end retainers extending into the exiting end at least a sufficient distance from each side panel and from said bottom panel to prevent the containers in the row immediately above the bottom row from rolling out when the dispenser is open while the bottom of the carton is in a horizontal plane; and
- (d) means to close any end that is a non-exiting end.
17. The carton of claim 16, in which said a bottom end flap has a height that is significantly less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row, with said bottom end flap having an end, with said bottom fold line being spaced adjacent to said end of said bottom end flap.
18. The carton of claim 12, in which each side tear line that forms an end retainer extends to the adjoining side panel as a curved tear line.
19. The carton of claim 16, in which said bottom fold line is located at a distance from said bottom panel that is between one-third and two-thirds of the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row.
20. The carton of claim 17, which has two exiting ends.
21. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of cylindrical containers, each with a diameter, in at least two rows, with a bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:
- (a) a bottom panel, top panel, and foldably attached adjoining side panels;
- (b) said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;
- (c) said exiting end having a bottom tear line generally parallel to said bottom panel that extends partially across said side end flaps, with said bottom tear line being spaced adjacent to said bottom end flap, side tear lines extending from said bottom tear line to form an end retainer in said end adjacent each side panel, with each side tear line extending into the adjacent side panel and extending diagonally through said panel and extending into said top panel where said side tear lines meet, with all of said tear lines being interconnected to form a dispenser flap that when removed forms a dispenser opening, said end retainers extending into the exiting end at least a sufficient distance from each side panel and from said bottom panel to prevent the containers in the row immediately above the bottom row from rolling out when the dispenser is open while the bottom panel of the carton is in a horizontal plane; and
- (d) means to close any end that is a non-exiting end.
22. The carton of claim 21, in which said bottom end flap has height that is significantly less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row.
23. The carton of claim 1, which has a dispenser opening flap attached by a fold line in the top panel to the dispenser flap to aid in opening said dispenser flap.
24. The carton of claim 1, which has a carrying handle.
25. The carton of claim 1, which is constructed from paperboard.
26. The carton of claim 21, in which each side tear line that forms an end retainer extends to the adjoining side panel as a curved tear line.
27. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of cylindrical containers, each with a diameter, in three rows with a top, middle and bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:
- (a) a bottom panel, top panel, and foldably attached adjoining side panels;
- (b) said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is foldably attached to said bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to said top panel by a fold line, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;
- (c) said exiting end having a bottom tear line generally parallel to said bottom panel that extends partially across said side end flaps, with said bottom tear line being spaced adjacent to said bottom end flap, side tear lines extending from said bottom tear line to form an end retainer in said end adjacent each side panel, with each side tear line then turning and extending into the adjacent side panel and extending diagonally through said panel and extending into said top panel where said side tear lines meet to form a top tear line with at least a portion of said top tear line being spaced from the fold line between the top end flap and top panel that is significantly less than the diameter of containers to be contained in the carton, with all of said tear lines being interconnected to form a dispenser flap that when removed forms a dispenser opening, said end retainers extending into the exiting end at least a sufficient distance from each side panel and from said bottom panel to prevent the containers in the middle row from rolling out when the dispenser is open while the bottom panel of the carton is in a horizontal plane; and
- (d) means to close any end that is a non-exiting end.
28. The carton of claim 27, in which said bottom end flap has height that is significantly less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row.
29. The carton of claim 27, in which said means for attaching said flaps together and said means to close the non-exiting end and attachment of flaps is glue.
30. The carton of claim 27, in which each side tear line that forms an end retainer turns at an angle in the side end flap and extends into the adjacent side panel.
31. The carton of claim 27, which has a carrying handle.
32. The carton of claim 27, which has a dispenser opening flap in the top panel that is foldably connected to the dispenser flap to facilitate opening the dispenser flap.
33. The carton of claim 27, in which said top tear line in the top panel is spaced from the fold line between the top end flaps and top panel that is equal to approximately 50% of the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton plus approximately three millimeters.
34. The carton of claim 27, in which the distance from the top tear line in the top panel and the fold line between the top end flap and the top panel is between 75 and 85% of the diameter of a container to be contained in the carton.
35. The carton of claim 32, which has a dispenser opening flap in the top panel that is foldably connected to the dispenser flap to facilitate opening the dispenser flap.
36. The carton of claim 32, which has a carrying handle.
37. The carton of claim 27, in which each side tear line that forms an end retainer turns at an angle in the side end flap and extends into the adjacent side panel.
38. The carton of claim 27, in which said bottom tear line is located at a distance from said bottom panel that is between one third and two thirds of the diameter of a container in the bottom row.
39. The carton of claim 27, in which only one end of the carton is an exiting end.
40. The carton of claim 27 which is designed to carry cans with a diameter of approximately 66 millimeters and in which the top tear line in the top panel is spaced approximately 53 millimeters from the fold line between the top end flap and the top panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2007
Publication Date: May 22, 2008
Inventors: Jean-Manuel Gomes (Marietta, GA), Glen R. Harrelson (Gainesville, GA), Raymond R. Spivey (Mableton, GA)
Application Number: 11/958,069
International Classification: B65D 5/54 (20060101); B65D 17/28 (20060101);